Grim Tales Tarot - folklore and occult symbolism in Dark Victorian style
Fairy tales are not children's stories. The oldest versions are grimmer, sharper, less tidy. Grim Tales Tarot by Fiona Edgewood picks up that undercurrent and translates it into a tarot that follows the Rider-Waite-Smith structure, but clothes it in Victorian imagery and hidden symbols.
The deck is published by Llewellyn Publications. The cards have a matte dark grey gilding and come in a sturdy box with magnetic closure and lift ribbon. The accompanying book runs to 200 pages in full colour.
What you see on the cards
The illustrations are detailed and dark in tone. The figures wear Victorian-era clothing, the settings are forests, castles, interiors where light falls at an angle. No bright colours, but shades of grey, brown, green and deep red.
Many cards reference motifs from the Brothers Grimm: wolves, mirrors, forests where you get lost, doors you should not open. Those references are not literal, but function as archetypes. The Hermit does not become a dwarf, but does carry something of that solitude and that secret.
The occult symbolism sits in details: a hand that is just a bit too long, a shadow that does not match, a flower that does not fit the season. You only see it if you look at a card longer.
How this deck relates to RWS
The structure is classic Rider-Waite-Smith. If you know those meanings, you can work with this deck straight away. What changes is the tone. Where RWS can be bright and almost cheerful, Grim Tales pulls everything half a tone darker.
That does not make the deck gloomy, but it does make it serious. It suits readings where you look at shadow sides, at what you would rather not see, at questions that have no simple answer.
Lay a three-card reading as a short story: 'Who am I in this chapter?', 'What is hidden behind the door?', 'What does the forest whisper to me?'
Who this deck is designed for
The book states the cards are suitable for beginners because the Rider-Waite-Smith structure is there. That is technically correct, but the imagery asks for attention. This is not a deck you read quickly during a coffee break.
Many users pick it for narrative readings, where the cards do not give separate answers but form a story you tell yourself. It also works well for shadow work and for questions about patterns you have carried for a long time.
About Fiona Edgewood
Fiona Edgewood is an artist and mystic. Her work revolves around folklore and fantastic storytelling. For Grim Tales she took the Brothers Grimm as a starting point and merged those traditional tales with tarot symbolism and Victorian aesthetics.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Structure: Rider-Waite-Smith
- Language: English (cards and book)
- Book: 200 pages, full colour
- Card finish: Matte dark grey gilding
- Packaging: Sturdy box with magnetic closure and lift ribbon
- Dimensions: 82.6 x 45.2 x 128.5 mm
- Paper: Sustainably sourced
- Ink: Eco-friendly
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
- Design and illustrations: Fiona Edgewood
Questions we often get
What makes the illustrations different from other fairy tale decks?
Most fairy tale decks choose a light or colourful approach. Grim Tales chooses a Dark Victorian style with occult details and a dark tone that stays closer to the original Brothers Grimm stories.
How sturdy is the packaging for daily use?
The box is made by Llewellyn and has a magnetic flap that closes well. The lift ribbon makes it easy to take the cards out. The box is sturdy enough for intensive use.
